Río Hondo College Child Development Center has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. NAEYC Accreditation is a rigorous and transformative system that uses 10 research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive improvement in high-quality early learning environments.
Harnessing the power of film and committed to helping the mental health and well-being of their classmates and community, seven Fontana Unified film production students have been recognized for excellence in the Directing Change Film Project. Jurupa Hills High School seniors Gustavo Lopez, Christian Guerrero, Caleb Oard, Lyza Garay and juniors Brian Moreno and Alexzander Zavala, along with Summit High School senior Audrey Juarez, received honors for 60-second public service announcements touching on subjects such as social distancing, immigration rights, racism, voting and keeping a healthy daily outlook. The Directing Change Film Project is a monthly contest with two categories for high school students; The Hope & Justice category is an open submission for any film topic that encompasses social justice and equal rights issues, and the Monthly Prompt category asks for films concentrating on a single subject.
Two high-achieving Summit High School seniors are one step closer to earning a full-ride scholarship to an elite college or university after being named QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship finalists. Gabriel Rodriguez Cortez and Joleen Wardeh are among nearly 7,000 students across the United States chosen as finalists, including nine additional Fontana Unified seniors. Finalists are considered for early admission and full scholarships from QuestBridge college partners.
Fontana Unified High School Honored for Financial Aid Application Rates
Jurupa Hills High School was celebrated as a statewide winner during the second annual California College Affordability Summit on Nov. 17, recognizing its college-going culture and student support resources. For the second year in a row, Jurupa Hills High School was feted as one of the top 24 schools with the highest financial aid application completion rates in the state. The virtual summit brought together hundreds of educators, city and state officials, and legislators from across the country to highlight the importance of financial aid and its ability to increase college access, enrollment and persistence.
Cheered on by her parents and four older siblings dressed in green and white, Fontana High School senior Victoria Vasquez signed her letter of intent to continue her softball career and education at Utah Valley University. Vasquez has played several sports as a Fontana High School Steeler – including basketball, soccer and volleyball – but softball has been her first love since she picked up a glove at age 7. Her dedication to the sport has culminated in an athletic scholarship that will fund her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. P
Baldwin Park Unified Students Grow Music Skills during Distance Learning
More than 400 students in Baldwin Park Unified’s violin and orchestra programs are honing their musical skills and practicing compositions thanks to the dedication of District orchestra teachers Jacob Boyd, Joshua Chan, Paul Grant and Justin Wong. Through a collaborative effort, BPUSD’s music department will create a virtual performance to celebrate the winter holidays, featuring elementary, middle and high school students
Whittier Union High School Holiday Donation Assists Families
About 100 Whittier-area families in need received an outpouring of holiday cheer complete with Thanksgiving dinner fixings and a $25 Stater Bros. gift card at a Turkey Drive held at Pioneer High School on Nov. 15. The event was conceived by Helping Homeless Veterans-LA President and founder Cynthia Perry-Lopez and her husband, John Lopez, who is Pioneer’s campus operations supervisor. Families began lining up for the Turkey Drive at 4 a.m. Each car received a grocery bag filled with boxes of stuffing and mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, gravy and the gift card.
Fontana Unified Kicks Off ‘Fontana Santas’ Toy Drive
Fontana Unified has kicked off its 23rd annual Fontana Santas Toy Drive, which collects gifts and donations to provide holidays gifts to FUSD students in need. The annual toy drive is a joint effort by Fontana Unified, Fontana School Police, Fontana Teachers Association, United Steelworkers Local 8599, Fontana Foundation of Hope, Fontana School Police Officers Association and Fontana Management Association. Donations may be dropped off at the Fontana School Police Department, 9680 Citrus Ave., Building 9, Fontana.
Four Fontana High School seniors, known for their excellence in the classroom and leadership on campus, have been named QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship finalists. Victor Campos, Vanessa Gutierrez, Fatima Kamara and Ernesto Sanchez are among nearly 7,000 students across the United States in consideration for early admission and four-year full scholarships if matched with a participating university.
Beatty Middle School will provide 20 students with backpacks, physical education clothes, notebooks and writing utensils thanks to a $2,000 donation from the Orange County Korean American Lions Club (OCKALC). Members of the OCKALC were welcomed to the campus, where Principal Erik Bagger led a tour of the school’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lab, offices and classrooms. Bagger said the money will go a long way to make students feel at home at Beatty. Photos are available.
